Social Work (Bachelor's Degree) at Andrews University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,858

Est. from MI median (14 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,000

Est. from MI median (8 programs)

Analysis

The $27,000 debt load here sits right at Michigan's median for social work bachelor's programs, but the field itself presents a fundamental challenge: first-year earnings around $38,000—drawn from comparable programs across Michigan—leave little cushion for loan repayment. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71, graduates would need to dedicate roughly nine months of gross income just to cover their educational debt, assuming they entered this helping profession immediately after graduation.

Michigan's social work landscape shows remarkably tight clustering. The state's top-performing programs—including University of Michigan-Flint at $40,371 and Wayne State at $39,774—produce only modestly higher outcomes than the state median Andrews likely matches. This suggests the field's economics are fairly consistent regardless of where you train in Michigan, with starting salaries constrained by nonprofit budgets and state agency pay scales rather than by the prestige of your diploma.

The real question is whether your child has explored income-driven repayment plans and potential loan forgiveness programs for social workers in underserved areas. Those safety nets matter more here than the specific school, since similar programs statewide produce nearly identical financial outcomes. If they're committed to the mission of social work, the debt is manageable with proper planning—but they should enter clear-eyed about earning $38,000 while carrying $27,000 in loans.

Where Andrews University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all social work bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Michigan

Social Work bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Michigan (23 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Andrews UniversityBerrien Springs	$33,710	$37,858*	—	$27,000*	—
University of Michigan-FlintFlint	$14,014	$40,371*	$46,279	$38,000*	0.94
Wayne State UniversityDetroit	$14,297	$39,774*	$41,817	$28,012*	0.70
Spring Arbor UniversitySpring Arbor	$32,580	$39,071*	$44,456	$29,893*	0.77
Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids	$13,630	$38,870*	$43,864	$27,500*	0.71
Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti	$15,510	$38,517*	$43,619	$31,111*	0.81
National Median	—	$37,296*	—	$26,362*	0.71

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with social work graduates

Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in social work. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Social and Community Service Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.

$78,240/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.

$64,520/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Marriage and Family Therapists

Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.

$63,780/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Healthcare Social Workers

Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Social Workers, All Other

All social workers not listed separately.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Counselors, All Other

All counselors not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Andrews University, approximately 22% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 14 similar programs in MI. Actual outcomes may vary.